If your busy life feels like a treadmill, and you’re ready for some ideas on how to press the Pause button, here’s something you can try.
When people ask how you’re doing, perhaps you respond with, “Oh, busy”. Has it become your standard response?
No doubt you’re aware of all the research on the positive health benefits of meditation, and how it actually changes and improves brain function. But who has time to meditate, right?
If “busy” feels like a treadmill, and you’re ready for some ideas on how to press the Pause button, here’s something you can try. It’ll take less than two minutes.
Get comfortable in your chair (but not so comfortable that you might fall asleep).
Breathe in, breathe out.
Repeat twice more.
Next time you inhale, count “1”. On the exhale, repeat “1”.
Inhale, say to yourself “2”. Exhale, “2”.
See if you can make it to 10 without your mind drifting to the grocery list. If your thoughts do wander, gently start again,tracking your breaths from 1 to 10.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Open your eyes.
As you go about the rest of your day, see if you notice any subtle changes that take place.
Such a simple process. Taking meditation time seems to me to be an important part of self care. It’s the same for eating well, getting exercise, enough good rest, brushing your teeth, bathing, putting cream on dry hands and feet and so on. After a while you can create a habit of non self care which is dominant even after the kids are grown and gone, when you “have time”. If I take time for self care, then most everything else gets done, maybe even better.Taking care of a child or your pet is a sacred duty of care for those dependent on you. Make time for yourself around them, knowing that your own self-care is also a sacred duty.
Many people are sick right now – I know I work in
the hospital.
Perhaps we should all take time to hibernate some –
switch off the electronics and meditate, sleep, read
a good book, write your dairy or memoirs depending on your age – I call these days pj days – a week end
will do.
Bronchitis is especially bad right now. Seems to go and comes back.
Peace, Marie